Redundant Systems?

[pcake]

given the money, the space and playing shows, i'd have a two very similar systems. i had a cab blow out just before a show, and had to scramble to borrow another cab with less than 24 hours to go and future shows on the calendar. it was nice that the manufacturer repaired it, but i wanted for months. having a second sytem would have been very useful.

also sometimes two rigs may be the same on paper, but may sound different or have different features good for different types of music.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

You should definitely get a great relationship with repair people so you don't have to stand in line with your coat check ticket in your sweaty hand!

This helps keep you ready when you need to be.

 

[DrBnz]

You've already bought it - so you can afford it. I assume you have the space for it as that never came up in the conversation. So I don't see the problem here. You don't need to sell anything unless you need the space or money.

 

[Zooberwerx]

You've already bought it - so you can afford it. I assume you have the space for it as that never came up in the conversation. So I don't see the problem here. You don't need to sell anything unless you need the space or money.

I have a rig that can be broken-down into two nearly identical stacks...trying to sell one so I have the funds to purchase a smaller config. As you pointed out, they were affordable when purchased years ago and practical in terms of weight, portability, and performance. I can stick one in our rehearsal space although it's akin to using a howitzer to swat a fly. The good news: my wallet doesn't leave my pocket.

Riis

 

[dfreeland83]

This may sound a bit redundant, but I really enjoy the redundancy of redundant systems.

The best way to describe my philosophy would be ‘my redundancy is based on how far away from home I am, and how much I have riding on the gig.’ Basically, if I’m playing at church, there’s gonna be a house bass and DI box there if things go crazy. If I’m driving three hours for a two-day youth conference, I’m gonna have a spare bass, a spare DI, batteries, strings, all that Jazz.

I’ve never had a spare amp, but 80% of what I do is ampless. My amp rarely leaves the house.

 

[LowActionHero]

Is there something better than more bass gear?

The vacation is paid for, and we are not in need, so the bass gear seems like the best option. She does have a lot of shoes ...

How many feet does she have?
Or does she want your amp space for more shoes?

 

[anderbass]

Having an extra (loud) bass stack to leave at the rehearsal studio has come in very handy for me.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I was chatting with my partner and it came out that I have two rigs that are essentially the same. It is two stacks and then I have some smaller amps for practice and such. Well she suggested I should sell one stack. That I didn't really need two stacks that are almost exactly the same. The insanity!

Anyway, I am a hobbyist really. I play out at open mics and have a trio project focused on original material. So maybe I don't need redundant systems like the folks that play out on the regular or professionally. I thought this might make a fun poll.

Should one have redundant systems? Is it extravagant, or my money so I'll buy what I want? Or is it better to have multiple rigs to add tools to the tool box? Or should one keep it as simple as possible? One bass one cord, a rig and a pedal board for FOH support? Bass only?

Cheers,
Doc.

Now that you mention it, I think I have 7 based on how many ways they can be configured, which at my age is totally absurd.

 

[Bonecat]

I’m just a hack weekend warrior, but we’re actively gigging and our calendar is as full as we want it to be. I have a small G/K combo, a Bergantino B|Amp/HDN210 rig, and an HX Stomp on a pedalboard. I’m almost always ampless now, going direct to FOH (we’re all using IEMs). The B|Amp is racked and goes to each gig as a backup. I’ll bring the cab and use it on really large stages, mostly for our drummer. The G/K is a backup backup and EUB amp when I’m playing acoustic/folk/Celtic/world stuff, which is pretty rare these days…

 

[StereoPlayer]

I use a stereo amp rig. If one were to fail…I would play in mono…ugh…did I just say mono?

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Interesting to look at the stats of those wishing to participate in the survey.

No one is owning up to being "that guy" who doesn't own an amp (equipment) at all, but does have a Bass?

+/- 25% are in the garden

+/- 50% are stating multiple varient systems.

Over the top and minimalist are both +/- 10%

Moderation or (flexible) is 15%

Interesting....

 

[Snert]

I'm a working pro, in the sense that people pay me money to turn electricity into noise they enjoy. I carry a small class D amp in my stage bag, along with a spare set of used strings.

Even when I was a semi-pro, I always had some level of redundancy, ie a DI and the second head I owned in the car, just in case; sometimes it was onstage. With class D amplifiers being small, light and cheap, I'd be tempted to have one in my cables bag, to be pro in attitude. Show must go on, right?

 

[neddyrow]

"A good general always has reserves"

I own:
- 2 uprights
- 2 Acoustic Image Heads
- 2 MAS cabs
- 2 Electric Basses
- 2 HPFs
- 2 DI Boxes
- 2 Acoustic guitars
- 1 Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 and a Revsound 48VT for home/studio

I gig almost every weekend in the summer and always feel better knowing I have a back up if something goes wrong with my rig at a gig. I can improvise a solution that night but have something already to go for the next gig without skipping a beat. One of my kids broke the button on my messenger preamp but luckily I have a mute/DI and HPF backup to cover me for I i go ampless at our next festival spot.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I use a stereo amp rig. If one were to fail…I would play in mono…ugh…did I just say mono?

And… I only take one bass… in my experience a bass guitar is a pretty tough thing to break/fail….knock on wood.
All the time I took another bass…I never used it.

if I was one a road trip, I would take another bass.

 

[Snert]

And… I only take one bass… in my experience a bass guitar is a pretty tough thing to break/fail….knock on wood.
All the time I took another bass…I never used it.

if I was one a road trip, I would take another bass.

If I was playing out again in a larger context, I'd take my Steinberger Spirit as a spare; small and fairly light and takes up no space on stage. Never needed a spare bass before.

 

[pcake]

You should definitely get a great relationship with repair people so you don't have to stand in line with your coat check ticket in your sweaty hand!

This helps keep you ready when you need to be.

not necessarily. when my cab went out at night less than 24 hours before a gig, it turned out to need a part. in that situation, you're pretty much up a creek unless you can rent or borrow a rig. or unless you have a backup.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

not necessarily. when my cab went out at night less than 24 hours before a gig, it turned out to need a part. in that situation, you're pretty much up a creek unless you can rent or borrow a rig. or unless you have a backup.

Sure;

I, personally, have not been one needing repair done due to failures of equipment. I have been one who made it a point to know technicians that knew what they are doing and take things in periodically for checkups and cleaning.

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Same with cars. If you blow an engine, it's messed up!

That is just my experience YMMV. (I would definitely also be in a position to either borrow, rent or replace a cabinet, if ever required.) There is always used gear sitting around in any major city. Again, never had to worry about it or schlep extra stuff.

Basses, never had more than one at a gig. I don't break Bass guitars. When I owned eight different Basses. I was either recording or playing for more than one artist at the same time. Then it was nice to have choices for different applications. I was never an Upright player.

 

[pcake]

Sure;

I, personally, have not been one needing repair done due to failures of equipment. I have been one who made it a point to know technicians that knew what they are doing and take things in periodically for checkups and cleaning.

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Same with cars. If you blow an engine, it's messed up!

That is just my experience YMMV. (I would definitely also be in a position to either borrow, rent or replace a cabinet, if ever required.) There is always used gear sitting around in any major city. Again, never had to worry about it or schlep extra stuff.

Basses, never had more than one at a gig. I don't break Bass guitars. When I owned eight different Basses. I was either recording or playing for more than one artist at the same time. Then it was nice to have choices for different applications. I was never an Upright player.

and yet...

both my peavey black widow cab and my GK112 Neo ll blew out from flaws in the cab, not from my misusing them. GK sent me a replacement coil - the model had a known coil issue that at some point failed - and peavey didn't tell me what they did, but it did require a part, and they told me i hasn't caused the issue - it appeared in a lot of that cab.

 

[arbiterusa]

So maybe I don't need redundant systems like the folks that play out on the regular or professionally.

I gig weekly and I don't have redundant systems. I frequently don't bring spare basses either. unless we're doing some of the modern country 5 string stuff, where I bring a BEAD bass for that. You shouldn't have to if you've bought good gear in the first place.

The gig rig lives in the garage and I have an Eden 110 and BAM in the living room for practice.

It's fine if you want to have a gig rig, a replica of the gig rig, hell, buy 19 of them if you like, but you don't NEED them.

 

[jthisdell]

Different options in cabs is very useful. I have Berg CN112 and 210 cabs so I have three options there (they go together very well) and also have a Barefaced One10 for very small applications. I typically leave one cab at rehearsal which is a big help.